The Indianapolis journal., 1887-12-18
MINISTER'S AT HOME.
How Some New York Preachers Live-LuC
urious Flats and Brownstone Fronts.


Potter, Bishop of the Episcupalsn churches in
New York City, is of almost military
bearing decisive and quick in speech and action,i
and yet with fine swords edge polish about 10
all. A prominent leading member of his ehurc1
said of him:
mo wonder things move under his directiort
oil Bishop Potter pAeds TO do is TO look al thinf
to make it stare.
His form is erect as an arrow, his hair is nus
gray and he has the conventional English cut 70
his whiskers by which almost all Episcopalias
clergymen are distinguished. He has mors
than his whiskers to make him somewhat
English in style, for his accent is distinctivelJ
that of Britisher. His voice is clear and rs.
sonant Like most of the prominent clergy
men of New York. who have princely salaries,
he lives in accordance with his income. He
does not have house to himself, but rents 8
fat in a magnificent building where some OF
the very wealthy people of New York have
their residences. 1t is in the same building
that young George Gould established his house
hold soon otter his marriage with Edith KING
don, the actress. Rents in that building vary
from 81, 600 to 81. .O0U.
Bishop Potter lives in a fat that is situated
about half way between the ground and the lofty
top of the building but that does not signify
anything as to its price or desirablity. because
the system of elevators has beer introduced
element of comfort or discomfort in an apart
ment. His windows overlook the easternnost
strawberries of Central Park. and are. therefore,
very near the corner OF Forty ninth street and
Fifth avenue To all callers VINO approach the
building a lveried footman opens the outer
door, similarly garbed manages the dainty,
elevator, but modest maid servant takes the
callers card to the massive door OF the Blshop 3
private room These flats are arranged, TO a
certain extent, after the manner of fine private
houses with vestibule in which the caller sits
until liS has hep rpfp ed RI
within. The rooms of Bishop Potters apart
ment are large. light and furnished with all this
luxuries known to the modern world Every
thing is arranged in the most artistic and att
tractive manner. The furniture is of tbs
eostliest and most expensive kind, and the dec
there by the builders. but those added by the
Bishop, are all of the highest degree of finish
and elegance 4 full-sized Raphael is the most
prominent painting on the walls, which are near
ly obscured with numerous pictures. 1t is this
only feature of the apartment that might MARX
the ecclesiastical character of its distinguished
occupant comfortable odor. neither of roast
beef nor perfume. but suggestive of both. per-
vades the atmosphere. One gets the impression
from this apartment that it is the home of
wealthy society man of cultivated taste and .
disposition to get every comfort out of lie
Next to Bishop Potter in prominence in the
Episcopal Church is Archdeacon Mackay Smith
a distinguished looking man, six feet in height,
of massive build but not overweighted with
flesh. He has smooth round face that does
not look ike that or an American. ana Is set or
by a business-like mustache and fine pair of
dark eyes that glance all about a person and
not through and through him the Bishops do.
His manner is dignifed and much marked by
bonhomie. and he seems TO have a sensible mod
ern way of looking at things that is refreshing
and entertaining in one of his calling de ocl
cupies an elegant brownstone front on Fifth
avenue. Sixty-sixth street 1t overlooks al
most attractive section of Central Park. and -
far removed from the turmoil and hustle of the
great city. When enters the house the
first
sized statue Of the Venus de Medici looking OUT
at one from an alcove near the stairway. ManN
other classical works of art. both in statuary
and painting. to be seen in all parts of ths
house, and distinguishing feature of the dec
orations of his home is a collection of expenslya
and interesting brio a. brac- Hverled buteri
bears the callers card to his employer neat
silver tray. If the caller is not personally
known to the Archdeacon he is requested to
write a short message outlining his business
for this purpose the butler presents him an
oblong tab, elegantly mounted in oxydized silyers
which is carried on the silver waiter to the IN.
most penetralia of the house, where the Archs
deacon considers the matter and sends out his
answer. Another distinguishing feature of this
establishment is the perfection of the butlers
who has been well trained evidently and hta
excellently into the semi-ecclesiastical position
which he occupies.
Another tall distinguished-looking man at the
head of an ultra fashionable church, is DIR. Joh1
Hall. He is a Presbyterian and his church il
located Fifth avenue He has round
smooth face, keen, but smiling gray eyes, fuh
u
trait in physiognomy that is said always to co.
incide with sturdiness of mentality and unusual
executive ability. Whether this coincidence is
general not. 1T certainly applies III this case.
Dr. Hall is one of the most methodical and
business-like clergymen in the New FORK pulpit.
Everybody who has seen him has remarked
tween him and Col Ro9ert IngersoIl He re.
ceives his regular parish calls In the morning
hours. excepting Saturday and Monday in
the best parlors of his ultrastylish home ON
West Fifty sixth street His conduct of the
matters that arise in the parish and that are
presented to him in these calls is marked by
great tact and precision He disposes OF all
business of the above nature that comes before
him much after the manner of Judge in court
He never seems in hurry, but never wastes
second between the stories and malntalns
strictly a rule that parties shall see him IN
rotation according to the time of their calling,
OF his house, nothing can be said further thas
that it is of unusual elegance and comfort;
His income is rather above that of most success
full business men. He not only has lis salary,
which is said to be $4,000 year, from his
church, but he gets a handsome remuneration
from the New York Ledger for weekly con-
tribution to the amount of about column o&
matter to its pages. In fact, ms pay Ioe ne
Ledger matter is quite as much as most OF 1ns
successful managing editors of great oalnes see
in any part of the country HIS income IS
further increased by rather numerous con1r.pu- 'l
tions to the great periodicals OF the country;
DR. Hall is essentially society man. ana II II
were not for his remarkable business aDlllty ne
would not be able TO dispose OF his parish WORK
With snfficient promptness and allow him the
sorial diversion which he takes. His house ik
the scene of frequent receptions and he goes
ont among fashionable people great deal His
manner of living is that of formal society man.
For instance. when evening comes, he puts on
evening dress and never fails to defer to tins
canons of society in all matters that appertai9
to formal intercourse with people IN his
social relations he does not impress one as
clergyman. yet knowing that that IS his calling.
1T is easy to see that his manner Is lnnuenceo
by it. One who did not know that he was
a clergyman might take him for cultivated
of wealth and leisure
An influential and famous clergyman, whose
life is in marked contrast to these three, Is the
Rev. Robert Collyer. pastor Of the Church OF
the Messiah He lives in brick house that ls
less than modest in appearance and Is one OF a
long row of houses on East Thirty-ninth street.
He looks like hale and sturdy yeonnan of g.
past His hair is white snow, his cheeks
ruddy as midsummer apples No butler guards
him from intrusion He requires no card or
other password from any person whatever
who may choose to call upon him An ordinary